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Rizal's name is everywhere — from streets to crawling creatures


Nearly 115 years after his death, Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal's legacy lives on as he lends his name to streets, crawling creatures, and so much more. In a report on "News To Go" on Thursday, GMA News' Jun Veneracion said a good number of Philippine streets are named after Rizal. In Metro Manila alone, no less than 10 streets are named "Jose Rizal." Many streets are also named after the popular characters in his novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" such as Simoun, Sisa, Maria Clara, Ibarra, and Basilio. Three animal species that Rizal himself discovered were named after him:

  • the Draco rizali from the lizard family;
  • the Apogania rizali from the beetle family, and
  • the Rhacophorius rizali, a rare kind of frog.
    For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Named after the hero Many Filipinos are named after Rizal. "Even sa pagpapangalan ng kanilang mga anak, yung mga magulang mayroon kasing associative charge yung pagpapangalan, ibig sabihin mayroon tayong iniuugnay doon sa pangalan," explained Sociologist Sarah Raymundo of the Center for International Studies, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. "Isa itong pagkakataon ng mga magulang na maisalin sa kanilang anak yung mga aspiration nila," Raymundo said on "News To Go" on GMA News TV on Thursday. "Mahalagang buhayin siya dahil kung ikaw yung nahirang na bayani ng estado, ibig sabihin mahalaga yung sinasagisag mo, yung sinisimbolo mo para manatiling buo yung hawak ng estado sa bayan," said Raymundo. Sharing Rizal's passion "Yung mga nakakarinig na Jose Rizal ang pangalan ko for the first time, nangingiti at natatawa, at siguro tinitingnan rin kung matalino rin ako, at kung medyo may pagkabayani rin," says Jose Rizal Reyes. Although Reyes does not claim to be heroic, he said he shares Rizal's passion for writing. "Na-realize ko na ang layo ng aming agwat in terms of achievement. Wala naman akong masyadong makitang pagkakatulad namin, maliban lang siguro pareho kaming mahilig gumawa ng tula," said Reyes who has written around 2,000 sonnets since 2007. Like Rizal, Reyes said he expresses his love for the Philippines by writing about the country's current situation. Rizal was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna. Through his writings, he advocated for political reforms during the Spanish colonial period. He was executed by firing squad on December 30, 1896 after he was accused of rebellion, sedition, and forming an illegal association. The country will commemorate Rizal's 150th birth anniversary on Sunday, June 19. - VVP, GMA News
  • Tags: joserizal
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